Plane Crashes In Russia

According to the passenger list, first and last name of Yevgeny Prigozhin was included in this list.

Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport in a statement on a plane crash that occurred in Russia on Wednesday evening; according to reports, all 10 people aboard the plane – including Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group – are believed to be dead.

What To Know: According to Russian aviation authorities, a private jet carrying 10 passengers crashed in Russia on Wednesday. Russian state news agency Tass reports, "According to preliminary data, all 10 people on board the plane have died." An investigation into the crash has been launched by Russian authorities, according to Tass.

• One person reportedly listed on the passenger list of the plane is Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and head of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary force that has fought on Russia's behalf across Africa and in Ukraine. In June, exactly two months ago, the group launched an armed rebellion against Russian military leadership, challenging President Putin's authority, after which Prigozhin was ordered to move his operations to Belarus (he has since appeared to travel outside of Belarus, including meeting with Pres. Putin in late June).
• Important To Note: Although Prigozhin was reportedly listed as a passenger on the crashed plane, it remains unclear whether he was actually onboard. According to The New York Times, "American officials said they could not confirm the reports from Russia that Yevgeny V. Prigozhin had been killed in an airplane crash, or why the jet went down." White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said, "We have seen the reports. If confirmed, no one should be surprised."

#Developing

Officials say a jet crash in Russia kills 10, Wagner chief Prigozhin was on passenger list

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Check out our SmartHER Interviews with author and journalist David Satter, who spent decades living and working in what's now modern-day Russia before being expelled under the Putin regime; Satter remains a diligent reporter on Russian affairs, providing invaluable analysis and insight: Unraveling A Russian Revolt